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Corn conditions dip slightly, but…

Summer weather finally returned last week, bringing seasonal temperatures and mostly dry conditions to many areas of the Corn Belt. According to the USDA’s latest Crop Progress report, currently 75 percent of the nation’s corn crop is in good or better condition, compared to 76 percent last week.

Even with the slight decline in crop conditions from last week, historical Crop Progress data show corn conditions are still the best seen since 2004:

Figure 1: National corn conditional ratings

Report Date

Very Poor

Poor

Fair

Good

Excellent

July 28, 2014

1

5

19

53

22

July 29, 2013

3

8

26

46

17

July 30, 2012

23

25

28

21

3

August 1, 2011

5

9

24

46

16

July 26, 2010

2

7

19

49

23

July 26, 2009

2

6

22

52

18

July 28, 2008

3

7

24

49

17

July 30, 2007

5

11

26

42

16

July 31, 2006

7

11

26

41

15

August 1, 2005

7

13

27

39

14

July 26, 2004

1

5

17

52

25

Looking at individual states, the best corn in the country is growing in Missouri, where 84 percent of corn is in good or better condition. North Carolina reported the worst corn in the country with 14 percent in poor or very poor condition.

The USDA reported 78 percent of corn silking, putting it just 3 percentage points above the five-year average. Seventeen percent of corn has now reached the dough stage of development, compared to 8 percent last year.

Soybeans: 38% setting pods Soybean conditions also declined slightly over the last seven days with 71 percent of soybeans in good or excellent condition, compared to 73 percent last week; however, conditions remain better than last year when 63 percent of soybeans were rated in these conditions.

Louisiana reported the best soybean conditions by far with 80 percent of soybeans in good or better condition. Arkansas reported the worst soybean conditions in the country with 15 percent in poor or very poor condition.

As seen with the corn crop, soybean development is pulling ahead of the five-year average in both blooming and setting pods. Last year, just 18 percent of soybeans had set pods by this time of July. This week’s report showed 38 percent of soybeans have now set pods.